Where the wild things roam near the Comal County line

By Yvonne Zamora, Staff Writer :
June 25, 2013

Real estate developer G.G. Gale counts Zahara the giraffe and Coco parrot as his “pets” - among several exotic animals - on his far North Bexar County property.

Behind the 8-foot fence that surrounds a 200-acre property on Borgfeld Drive lies a whole other world filled with exotic animals just miles away from the hustle and bustle of the busy urban streets.

The massive spread, which serves as a sanctuary for everything from giraffes, zebras and buffalo, has gravitated much attention from children of all ages and the young at heart, all who are eager to catch a glimpse or rare opportunity of feeding some of the unique animals.

“All the time the people and children stop at the gate wanting to feed them,” said Enia Alvarado, a housekeeper who works with her husband on the North Bexar County property

The owner of it all is G.G. Gale, a real estate developer best known for the development of nearby Timberwood Park and the Serenity Oaks subdivision located by the Guadalupe River.

Gale, who purchased the property six years ago, said he heads out to the front gate nearly every day between 5 and 8 p.m. eager to greet curious passers by.

"They (animals) just go up to the front. They know that people are going to stop," said Gale, who has been raising exotic animals for more than 40 years and considers them all his pets.

The property, which seems like a safari expedition, is also home to more than 50 wild turkeys, parrots, an iguana, a pot-bellied pig and several varieties of deer. Visitors just never know what else they might see when stopping by.

Purchasing and maintaining such one-of-a-kind pets isn't cheap, Gale explained. With each animal costing several thousand dollars at Kifaru Exotic Animal Auction House in Lampasas, and Raz Livestock Auction in Harper, Gale purchased his male giraffe for $40,000, which is substantially cheaper than a female.

He said it takes almost 6,000 pounds of food weekly to feed all his pets.

Yet, despite the hefty price tag,Gale says nothing can compare to the joy he feels knowing that his animals can quickly make the day of a child.

"I love watching the kids come by, and I give them a whole bag of carrots to feed them," said Gale, who also notes that his two giraffes named Zahara and Melman are the most popular amongst the visitors.

While the idea of housing such extreme animals might worry many people, it doesn't seem to bother the 76-year old business man, who still remains active managing his company alongside his wife of more than 41 years, Beth Gale.

He allows the animals to freely roam within the 150 acres of land — where he has a custom home — and he says he prides himself on training them to be gentle.

"All my animals are tamed," he said. "The buffalo will come and eat of out of my hand. I've trained them, and some were born here on this place."

Alvarado, who began working for Gale and his family 13 years ago after responding to a help-wanted ad, called her boss a “generous man,” and is very fond all the animals, which include two camels named Bonnie and Clyde.

Despite his age, Gale continues to work outdoors as a rancher, clearing cedar trees from his land and taking care of his many animals.

But, although Gale says he loves his not-so-typical pets, on his wife's pointed recommendation, he doesn't plan on purchasing more.